Foreigners key to citrus success

2PH Farms' owner Craig Pressler says five of his employees have been employed through the 457 visa scheme and it's been pivotal to his business.

He says highly skilled foreigners are able to be placed in leadership roles.

"We started a number of years ago using it because we saw that there was a need for people with specialised skills that we weren't able to access from the Australian workforce," he says.

Recent hikes in administration fees for 457 visas were announced in the latest budget but Mr Pressler says it won't have an impact on his operations.

"I think any cost increases are deterrents but it's the cost of doing business, the Government is a business and they need to have money from all different areas and we as a business have to work out whether that's onerous or whether that's acceptable," he says.

"At the moment we see that as acceptable because we have to fill those positions."

He says each potential employee from overseas is given a week long tour of the farm and town to ensure they and their families will be happy living in regional Australia.